Lignin degradation by white-rot fungi

R ten Have, PJM Teunissen. Oxidative mechanisms involved in lignin degradation by white-rot fungi. Chemical Reviews 101 3397-3413, 2001. 

Figure 1. /3-0-4 lignin substructure model dimers 1-4 and their degradation by white-rot fungi, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Coriolus versicolor, and Coriolus hirsutus. The ether bond between the C/ and the B-aromatic nucleus is referred to as /3-0-4 bond in lignin chemistry. 

Ishikawa, H., W. J. Schubert, and F. F. Nord The Enzymatic Degradation of Softwood Lignin by White Rot Fungi. The Degradation by Polyporus versicolor and Forties fomentarius of Aromatic Compounds Structurally Related to Softwood Lignin. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 100, 131-149 (1963). 

Thus, most of the degradative reactions of polymeric lignins suggested previously by the analysis of decayed lignin isolated from decayed wood by white-rot fungi were catalyzed by lignin peroxidase. 

Peroxidases are encoded by large multi-gene families, which has complicated the study of individual peroxidase enzymes (cf Christensen et al., 1998). Manganese and diarylpropane peroxidases are used by white rot fungi (basiodiomycetes) to degrade lignin via oxidation. 

Other lignin applications of NIR included research on flax fiber [148], compost prepared from wheat straw and chicken litter [149], hard red winter and spring wheat [150], and degradation of plant cell walls by white-rot fungi [151]. 

Kirk, T. K. and H.-M. Chang. 1974. Decomposition of lignin by white-rot fungi. II. Characterization of heavily degraded lignins from decayed spruce. Holzfors-chung 29 56-64. 

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